Madrid won the toss and elected to bat on another sunny day against La Manga at their impressive home venue.

Openers Muhammad Akmal (28) and Jimmy Ashraf (14) got the Madrid innings off to a good start, sharing an opening stand of 52 runs at a rate of just below 5 runs an over.

La Manga bowlers N Brook (2-16) and Z Abbas (1-30) then took control and some tight bowling reduced the Madrid run rate to under 4 runs an over against Madrid batsmen Zubin Cooper (29) and Andre Sivier (37).

La Manga’s introduction of the second stream bowling attack was the signal for Cooper and Sivier to start the Madrid onslaught. Supported by knocks of 23 by Irshad Khan of just 12 balls and 33* off 18 balls by Phil Reid, Madrid headed towards their final score of 212-8 scored at an impressive 7 runs an over in the second half of the innings.

La Manga captain George Wambeek (5-53) took wickets regularly along the way and brought back some control to the run rate early in his spell, before being clattered around the park by some ferocious hitting at 10 runs an over towards the end of the innings.

T French fielded impressively throughout taking three catches.

In reply, La Manga started slowly, losing both openers cheaply to the impressive Madrid opening attack of Rob Hatch (1-26) and Irshad Khan (1-11). Z Abbas (29) and G Potton (18) then shared a rapid partnership of 36 runs, bringing La Manga back on course with their run rate to progress and challenge Madrid’s total.

Nadeem Alvi (2-34) and Phil Reid (2-34) took control of the match with aggressive and accurate bowling despite some resistance from G Parker (30) who played an impressive innings, pushing runs consistently into the gaps between fielders. Once Parker fell to an impressive catch from captain Manny Fernandez off Muhammad Akmal, the remaining batsmen resigned themselves to blocking out the innings to restrict Madrid’s bonus points.

Man of the match for Madrid was Phil Reid with his impressive 33 off 34 balls including three 6's and a good bowling spell to take 2 wickets for 34 runs.

George Wambeek impressed for La Manga ending not out on 20 and taking 5 wickets.

The victory against La Manga made it 2 wins in 2 matches in 2 days for Madrid Cricket Club thanks in no small part to meticulous planning, good captaincy and the full support and commitment of the whole squad of players.

A special and large THANK YOU to the Madrid supporters, who throughout the weekend outnumbered and outshouted the support from Madrid’s opposition!!!